All Aboard!!

Nikki and I decided to take advantage of the last free day on the new Front Runner.  We got on at the Clearfield station and road it to Ogden.  We froze while we were waiting out on the platform for it but it made it part of the adventure.  The kids were so excited when the train finally pulled up.  It was so full so we had to stand, but luckily we got some nice views out the doors.  When we got to the station we spent some time playing on all of the old trains they had there.  It was fun to explore them and take some snap shots.  After that we went into Union Station and had some lunch.  I had talked to Jeremy on the phone along the way and he surprised us and met us at the station!  We had a wonderful lunch together and then headed back out to the trains to play a little longer until the Front Runner arrived.  The kids loved the adventure.  It all reminded me of living in Germany so I was telling Neeley all about the trains there and how they have dining cars and sleeping cars.  She decided that she wants to live on a train!  We would recommend this adventure to everyone and plan on doing some more train explorations in the near future!  ALL ABOARD??

A Perfect Day!

As a mom it is sometimes hard to find a day that just seems to go perfect.  I guess every day can be perfect but today just seemed to be all good.  It started at about 6:45 a.m.  Neeley and Kayla were dead asleep by 5:15 p.m. last night and slept til 6:45 a.m.  Lilah fed last at ten last night and slept until the other girls got up.  So we started out with baths, breakfast and then we headed out the door to step aerobics at the church.  We were even on time!  After an excellent work out and some good play time for the girls we headed back home for a shower and to feed the baby again.  I sat out in the garage and watched the girls scooter around the driveway while I fed Lilah.  Then we walked/scooted down the street to my visiting teaching appointments.  After that it was lunch time and naps for the girls.  I started making dinner to take to Nikki's and fed Lilah again.  When the girls woke up they drew pictures at the kitchen table and Lilah sat nearby so we could all visit while I cooked.  When dinner was done (corn pudding, chicken enchiladas, fruit salad and chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars) I ran a pan of dessert down to a friend who's having a birthday and then came back to dish up dinner.  The girls wanted to eat outside so we all went out for a picnic.  After our picnic we decided to forgo a lesson and play soccer for family home evening.  Then Jer and I sat and watched the girls perform various songs and tumbling tricks for us! Then we finished up the FHE with a family prayer.  Now here I sit blogging (my favorite past time) while the girls watch a movie.  Dishes done, teeth brushed, house straight, baby in bed.  What a perfect ending for a perfect day!  

Some fun, some outdoors, some exercise, some service, some visiting, some spiritual, some housework, some cooking, lots of love!!

Precious Things!

Lilah's blessing dress.


I have some treasures that I hold dear.  Growing up my mom had a cedar chest with all kinds of precious things inside.  I remember I used to love to open it up and peak inside.  That smell of cedar would overwhelm you like memories flooding over you.

I had always wanted my own and when I got older my parents gave me a cedar chest for Christmas.  Since then I have been placing my precious treasures inside.  Among these treasures are the shirts that both Jeremy and I wore on our first date, the first little t-shirts the girls wore, a baby outfit that reminds me of each of them, a scarf from my Grandma Nelson, a few doilies from my Grandma Neeley, a dishcloth that my mom painted, a set of pillow cases my mom embroidered and the dress I wore to the temple when I took out my endowments.When I have enough treasures I will take them and make a life quilt with all of them.  Each of these hold special memories that bring back glimpses of the past!  

This week I went with my parents to pick up a new precious thing to add to my treasure chest.  When each grandchild on my side of the family is born my mom and dad buy their blessing dress/outfit for them.  As I think back to Neeley and Kayla's blessing, the day we picked out their dresses are special memories attached to that day.  I will never forget going with Mom and Dad this week to lunch and shopping for Lilah's dress.

As I was looking at Lilah's dress it got me thinking what a special event their blessing day really is.  It is the first ordinance in the church they get to experience.  A feeling of reverence passes over me as I think of these little souls being given a name in those precious white dresses.  I like to think that this is the time when their little names are recorded in Heaven so they can be called this name for the rest of eternity.  There is also something wonderful about the blessings they get at this time.  It is so special to hear their daddy talk about blessings in life that are in store for them.

Along with the beautiful white dresses I have a few other blessing traditions.  Jeremy's mom knitted a blanket for Neeley's blessing.  We wrapped both Neeley and Kayla in it to have them blessed and we will do the same for Lilah.  Great Grandma Dopp made the cute little booties.  She used to make them for many of the grandkids but when I had Neeley she was getting pretty old and really didn't make them any more.  I asked her if she would make Neeley a pair for her blessing and she was flattered.  I think that was the last pair she ever made.  

Before my Grandma Neeley passed on I would go visit her.  While I lived in Germany we would write letters back and forth.  We created a special bond and she sent me some pinoche for Christmas and several letters.  She would often write that she didn't think she would make it until I got home.  Well she did make it and I was glad to see her again.  I would go visit her quite often and each time I did she would give me another treasure.  One day she gave me a quilt she had made and this cute little baby bib.  

This blessing Lilah is lucky enough to have something from each of her grandmas and from each of her great grandmas. In addition to these treasures listed above she is named after Delilah (Jeremy's Grandma Hill) and Ann after my Grandma Nelson!

Each of these precious things were worn by Neeley and Kayla and will also be worn by Lilah.  It is so nice to be surrounded with fond memories and gifts of love.

Kayla's Blessing Dress

Neeley's Blessing Dress

Spring Fun!

The girls were outside playing with their Barbies.  They have a little swimming pool that I let them fill with water.  A BARBIE sized swimming pool!  Well before I knew it they were all swimming in this miniature sized pool!  I don't know how they managed it, but they all got soaking wet!  Then of course they were freezing cold so we all came in took off their cloths and dressed them in princess dresses while their cloths dried!

Nikki and I started going to some exercise classes over at our stake center.  The kids play in one half of the gym and we exercise on the other!  All of the kids have scooters and my girls didn't.  They kept trying to steal the other kids scooters and felt left out.  Neeley has a scooter but Kayla doesn't.  So while Jer and I were out on a date last night we bought Kayla a scooter.  They had to try them out this morning so we took them for a spin around the kitchen!

Giggles and Glimpses

Today we went to Scott and Circe's house to celebrate Xanthe's birthday.  The girls had so much playing playdough and having cake and ice cream.  After that we all went to lunch at Pepperbellies in Kaysville.  Neeley and Kayla were having such a fun time with Ari we kidnapped her and took her home with us.  After playing outside for a while Nikki called and asked if we wanted to meet her and the boys at Baskin and Robbins.  In honor of Freestone, Ari chose eggnog icecream!  When we got back home the girls started cooking up plans for a sleep over.  They even came up with a scheme to get in jammies as to seal the deal.  After a little arm twisting with Circe (it's Ari's first time away) it was official.  The girls are now experiencing their very first sleep over.  Pizza and now a movie!  They are so cute together!  Neeley just snuck away from the movie to say, "Mom, sleepovers are fun huh!"  We'll see if we still agree with that in the morning!  Jer and I were just talking about how much fun the girls have been having lately with cousins.  You just don't get this living in Vegas!  We are so thankful for family.

As the three girls were giggling outside today trying to cram the three of them in the babie Jeep I had a glimpse of what is to come with my own three girls.  With Ari being six, Neeley 4 and Kayla 2 it is just the same age differences that our girls are.  Lots of giggles to look forward to! 

Circe, don't worry about Ari.  She is having a WONDERFUL time.  They are both basking in the glory of a first sleepover!  And Kayla? fast asleep in bed!

The Shoes are....Pink!


The Bags are....Pink!

The Dishsoap is...PInk!

The Movies are.....PINk!

The Shampoo is.......PINK!

The Decorations are......PINKK!

The Rugs are..........PINKKK!

The Photo Albums are....PINKKKK!

The Cloths are..............PINKKK!!

The Toys are......PINK!!!!!!!

And even the Milk is........................you guessed it PINK!!!!!!!!!

In a household full of pink, I can imagine it is hard for a man to survive!  You've heard the saying the straw that broke the camel's back.  Well today we had the bit of glitter that broke the dad's temper!  The girls were busy getting all glammed up with their curly hair and make up.  They love their new make up and want to put it on every time they see me put on mine.  In their make up kits are several tubes of glitter that seem to get spilled all over the bathroom.  Jeremy has mentioned before that he doesn't like finding glitter on him every day.  Well today was the last bit of glitter he could stand.  He grabbed his towel, a bar of soap and his manly shaver and headed down to the bathroom in the basement for a shower.  As he stomped off he said, "At least I'll have one spot in the house that is all mine!"  To that I replied, "Well I am not going to clean another shower!"  Jeremy replied, "I'll just shut the door and clean it when I get around to it!"

The icing on the cake was when Jeremy came up from the basement in his towel and Neeley said to him (in a pretty little voice), "How was your shower Dad?"

So to you my manly man, I say, we are sorry.  Sorry for the pink, the glitter, the curls, the dress ups and the drama.  But we are not sorry that we have you as our manly man in this sea of PINK!  We'll try to keep the glitter down to a minimum!



We searched the entire house over just to find some blue for you Dad!  This one's for you!

P.S.  I wonder who bought the glitter kits to begin with?  ;)

We really do love you Dad!  Thanks for putting up with us.  Someday maybe you'll have that boy to sympathize with.  In the mean time, we'll let you go fishing!

We dedicate the song (found here on my blog music) All American Girl by Carrie Underwood to you Dad!

Sneaker Snackers!

You know it's time to make dinner when....

Closet Bloggers

I had heard about blogging before but didn't really know much about it except that people would post videos, pictures and stories for others to read.  Jennie Gus sent me an email telling me she had a blog and I think I looked at it a few times but it didn't really strike me yet.  Then I heard all of my sister in laws were blogging and so I decided to check it out.  When I really took a second look at it and with a bit of pressure from them I started.  At first I thought it would be one of those things that I would start doing and fizzle out after a few posts.

I was wrong!  I am hooked!  Or should I say addicted.  I find myself constantly checking everyone's blogs just to make sure I haven't missed anything new.  I know I can set up something that will email me when someone posts but I think I just like looking.  It is like the thrill of Christmas morning every time I check.  What will be there.? Who will have something new?  And if my regulars don't have anything new I start blog hopping to find someone who does.  I love looking into other peoples lives.  I guess I get this from my Mommy.  Don't tell anyone (especially her neighbors) but she used to, or probably still does, get out the binoculars to watch the neighbors.  Now I have never gone this far but I love to walk by peoples houses at night just to see what their houses look like or I love to listen to other peoples conversations out in public.  Blogging is just like this only not so weird.  I love to see the every day stuff about others lives.  Being a stay at home mom it is easy to feel removed from the outside and get sick of 4 year old conversations.  Blogging serves as a way to get out and fills that need for adult interaction and conversation.  It is always there and you can just shut the person up when you are done!  For some reason, I think I feel connected again.  It's like my post about laundry.  I expressed my frustration and through your comments found that I am not so alone in my quest.  Or I read about Circe's childhood pets, Jennie's fighting toddlers, Nikki's fan mail, Michelle's political views, Sara's birthday cakes, etc.  I learn from you all and get a little more motivation each day to keep on keep'in on.

Jeremy is also a blogger.  But I like to call him a closet blogger.  He will check the "regulars" a few times a day and has even been known to blog hop a time or two or three.  You won't see any comments from him or even know he was there.  He just tip toes in and out each day to keep up.  Since I added the map to my blog (thanks to someone out there that I blog hopped to) I have noticed some other closet bloggers.  Most of the cities that show up keep showing up day after day so I know there are some closet bloggers that visit often.  I would love to know who you are so I can learn a little about you.  So if you are one of those that tip toe in now and then, please use the comments on this blog as a guest book of sorts to let me know who you are.  I would love to be able to peak into your life too!

I have noticed visits from these cities or somewhere round about them:

Monument, OR

Birmingham, AL

Denver, CO

Amherst, MA

Los Angeles, CA

Manteca, CA

Columbia, SC

A day of fun!

You just have to love that smile! HI! Austin!

Neeley, Jake, Kayla and Cade

Clint and Grandma taking in the sun!

Pretty in pink!!

Grandma is watching Jake this weekend so she brought him over to play this morning.  We all decided to go to Arctic Circle for lunch so Nikki and Clint came too.  After that we decided it was a nice day to blow up the slide and let the kids play.  It was still a little cold outside so I went in to get Cade and Austin a coat.  When I came out with this adorable pink coat for Cade Mom laughed because she knew we had another red jacket.  But I just couldn't resist seeing those cute little curls in the pink.  When we came inside he refused to take it off and ran down stairs to play with the dolls!  If he stays here long enough we will have him converted to a girl for sure!  Nikki, don't you think he looks cute??  What else would you expect from a household of girls?